Light emissive displays comprising overprint varnishes

Abstract

The present invention comprises a light emissive display comprising one or more photoluminescent printed waveguides. The waveguides are coated with one or more layers of an overprint varnish. The overprint varnish eliminates surface texture produced by the photoluminescent printing, rendering the waveguides transparent when in the non-energized state.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A display comprising:
 a) one or more waveguides, each waveguide independently having a photoluminescent image printed thereon; wherein the photoluminescent image adds a surface texture to the waveguide, so that if the waveguide does not have a layer of OPV, the image is not transparent when the waveguide is in the non-energized state; 
 b) one or more short wavelength light sources emitting excitation light, having a wavelength less than 450 nm, wherein each light source is associated with one waveguide, and adapted to transmit light through said waveguide, causing the photoluminescent image to emit visible light; 
 wherein each waveguide comprises one or more layers of overprint varnish (OPV); and wherein the OPV eliminates the surface texture of the photoluminescent image and the waveguide, rendering the photoluminescent image and the waveguide transparent in the non-energized state. 
 
     
     
       2. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the OPV is substantially transparent. 
     
     
       3. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the printed photoluminescent images create a surface texture on the waveguides, and wherein the OPV applied thereon renders the regions with a surface texture substantially transparent. 
     
     
       4. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the OPV has a refractive index of 1.1 to 1.9. 
     
     
       5. The display of  claim 4 , wherein the OPV has a refractive index equal to or lower than the refractive index of the waveguide material. 
     
     
       6. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the OPV is thermoformable. 
     
     
       7. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the OPV is solvent-based or energy curable. 
     
     
       8. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide comprises one or more energy curable inks printed thereon, and wherein the energy curable OPV is cured simultaneously with the energy curable inks printed on the waveguide. 
     
     
       9. The display of  claim 1 , wherein the OPV is applied by screen printing, digital printing, flood coat, curtain coating, or roll coating. 
     
     
       10. The display of  claim 1 , further comprising a translite transparency having a graphic printed thereon, posterior to the one or more waveguides. 
     
     
       11. The display of  claim 10 , wherein the translite transparency is illuminated by a visible light source separate from the light sources used to illuminate the one or more waveguides. 
     
     
       12. The display of  claim 1 , further comprising a physical object posterior to the one or more waveguides. 
     
     
       13. The display of  claim 12 , wherein the physical object is illuminated by a visible light source separate from the light sources used to illuminate the one or more waveguides.